Your presence is a dream realized, and a historic moment we will always remember, Professors and students of Darunnajah Islamic School to the Grand Imam

The Grand Imam came bearing knowledge and light, professors and students of Darunnajah Islamic School, Jakarta

New building in Darunnajah Islamic School named “Al-Azhar Al-Sharif”

Seeing these students with bright faces today confirms that Islam has men and women capable of carrying its message, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar

Al-Azhar’s doors will remain open to all Indonesian students, the Grand Imam

You must be knowledgeable and not submit to extremist movements that confuse belonging to the homeland with belonging to the Muslim nation, Al-Azhar GI, MCE Chairman to Indonesian students

Studying different sects revives in a person his acceptance of others and openness to all cultures, Al-Azhar GI, MCE Chairman to Indonesian students

Thousands of professors and students from Darunnajah Islamic Boarding School in Jakarta, Indonesia gathered to welcome His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE), Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, expressing their love and appreciation for His Eminence and their overwhelming happiness with his visit. They stressed that this visit has been a great dream for them and represents a historic moment that they will always remember.

In his welcoming speech during the celebration, which was titled “Al-Azhar and its Civilizational Message in Preaching and Education,” Dr. Sofwan Manaf, the Head of the Boarding School, said that the visit of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to the school represents a great honor and a historic moment that the founding father had always dreamed of, and always looked forward to it; today the dream has come true. He pointed out that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif enjoys the love and respect of all Indonesians and has had a great impact on preparing generations of scholars and jurists who carry the banner of knowledge, moderation and balance in all parts of the world. He stressed that Al-Azhar Al-Sharif has always remained the first reference for Muslims all over the world.

Dr. Manaf stressed that this visit is a great incentive for the students and teachers of the school to continue working to prepare a new generation of preachers, expressing his hope that this visit will open more areas of cooperation between Dar Al-Najah Institute and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. He said that His Eminence the Grand Imam came bearing knowledge and light, and noted that the name of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif will be given to the new building of the school, which is scheduled to open soon.

In his speech, the Grand Imam expressed his great happiness for seeing these students with bright faces, noting that seeing them today has given him a feeling that Islam has men and women capable of carrying its message. His Eminence pointed out the excellence of the Indonesian students who study at Al-Azhar and set an example in their commitment to morals and diligence in acquiring knowledge. He stressed that the doors of Al-Azhar will remain open to all Indonesian students wishing to study at Al-Azhar. He also decided to allocate a number of scholarships to students of the Darunnajah Islamic School and University to study at Al-Azhar and to encourage them to continue to excel and distinguish themselves.

His Eminence advised male and female students to be keen on acquiring knowledge and to work hard and diligently, stating, “Knowledge, knowledge, and knowledge.” He added that those students are the nucleus of the nation’s scholars and the bearers of its message and future. His Eminence also stressed the necessity of “loving the homeland” and not submitting to extremist movements that attempt to confuse belonging to the homeland with belonging to the Muslim nation, with the aim of spreading division and discord among Muslims. He called on students to be exposed to and study all schools of jurisprudence and knowledge, and not to be fanatical about one school of thought, pointing out that studying different schools of thought revives in a person their acceptance of others and openness to all cultures.